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Havana, Cuba. - A month after the beginning of the new policy of credits to the Cubans, around 93 thousand people have gone to the units of the Central Bank of Cuba in search of information and to ask for loans.

In a Round Table on the application of Decree law 289, the vice-president of that credit organization, Francisco Mayobre, said that of more than three thousand requests, most of them for the purchase of construction materials and payment of work force, 526 credits have been already approved with a value of 3,6 million pesos, for self-employed people, small farmers and people authorized to exert other forms of nonstate management.

Mayobre reiterated there are no maximum limits for loans, and the amounts and terms of repayment are agreed between the applicant and the Bank. Everything will depend on the client's capacity and security of payment.

Each case will have a specific analysis

Francisco Mayobre, vice-president of the Central Bank of Cuba, explained that in order to acquire a bank loan, the person makes the request in one of those units, and a Committee of Credits carries out an analysis of risk, taking into account the amount, the capacity and payment guarantees, if there are other debts —this is not a obstacle— and the credit object.

He clarified that they are not giving yet credits for the acquisition of durable goods like electrical appliance, which will be done when the conditions allow it.

José Alari, president of the Popular Bank of Savings, said the new bank policy has been a great challenge as far as the preparation of the staff and the adjustment of the countable systems.

He emphasized the rol of the cosurety in solido and the cosigner as payment guarantors, who can also ask for loans according to their capacity of payment.

An incentive to work

Ileana Estévez, president of the Bank of Commerce and Credit, explained that the minimum interest rate of 4,5 percent is applied to the farmers who ask for credits, during the first two years, to stimulate the usufructuary.

Also, Manuel Vale, head of the Metropolitan Bank, indicated that the state company and the self/employed people receive the same treatment, and that the request of the amount can be done by stages.

Joana Odriozola, from the Ministry of Economy and Planning, said the contracts between private companies and workers do not have any limitation and can be verbal, and Juana Lilia Delgado, head of the Group of Macroeconomic Policies, emphasized the system of credits fulfills seven Guidelines approved in the 6th Congress of the Party, in support to the actions stimulating the national production and the construction of houses.